SAP-C02 Practice Question: Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization
A company is migrating a large number of files from on-premises to Amazon S3. The files are in a network-attached storage (NAS) system with a 1 Gbps connection to the internet. The company has a 2-week deadline to complete the migration. Which TWO services should the company use to accelerate the migration? (Choose TWO.)
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
AWS DataSync
(AWS DataSync) is correct because it can accelerate online transfers using parallel multi-threading and compression, making it suitable for migrating large numbers of files over a 1 Gbps connection within 2 weeks. Option C (AWS Snowball Edge) is correct because it provides a physical storage device that can handle large data volumes offline, bypassing network bandwidth limitations. Option B (AWS Transfer Family) is incorrect as it is designed for managed file transfer protocols, not for accelerating bulk migration. Option D (AWS Database Migration Service) is incorrect because it is intended for database migrations, not file migrations. Option E (AWS Direct Connect) is incorrect because it requires provisioning a dedicated connection, which may take longer than 2 weeks to set up and does not directly provide data migration acceleration.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
AWS DataSync
Why this is correct
DataSync can accelerate online transfers over the network.
- ✗
AWS Transfer Family
Why it's wrong here
Transfer Family is for SFTP/FTPS, not acceleration.
- ✓
AWS Snowball Edge
Why this is correct
Snowball Edge physically transfers data, bypassing network limitations.
- ✗
AWS Database Migration Service
Why it's wrong here
DMS is for databases, not files.
- ✗
AWS Direct Connect
Why it's wrong here
Direct Connect may take weeks to provision.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
Go deeper
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Same concept, more angles
3 more ways this is tested on SAP-C02
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company is migrating a large number of files from on-premises to Amazon S3. The files are accessed frequently and require low latency. Which TWO AWS services can help accelerate the migration? (Choose TWO.)
medium- A.AWS Storage Gateway
- B.AWS CloudFormation
- ✓ C.AWS DataSync
- D.Amazon S3 Transfer Acceleration
- ✓ E.AWS Snowball Edge
Why C: Correct answers: C (AWS DataSync) and E (AWS Snowball Edge). AWS DataSync automates and accelerates transferring large amounts of data over the network, making it ideal for frequent, low-latency access. AWS Snowball Edge is a petabyte-scale data transport solution that uses secure physical devices to transfer large datasets offline, bypassing network constraints. Option A (AWS Storage Gateway) is a hybrid storage service, not a migration accelerator. Option B (AWS CloudFormation) is for infrastructure as code, not data transfer. Option D (Amazon S3 Transfer Acceleration) speeds up uploads but is a feature of S3, not a standalone migration service.
Variation 2. An organization wants to migrate 50 TB of data from an on-premises NAS to Amazon S3 over a slow internet connection. The migration must be completed within two weeks. Which approach is most appropriate?
easy- A.Use AWS DataSync over the internet
- ✓ B.Use AWS Snowball Edge
- C.Use Amazon S3 Transfer Acceleration
- D.Set up AWS Direct Connect
Why B: (AWS Snowball Edge) is correct because it can handle large data volumes over slow networks. Option A (AWS DataSync) may be too slow. Option C (Amazon S3 Transfer Acceleration) still uses internet. Option D (AWS Direct Connect) may take time to set up.
Variation 3. A company is migrating an on-premises data center to AWS. The company has a large amount of data (50 TB) that needs to be transferred quickly. The internet connection is limited to 100 Mbps. Which TWO methods should the solutions architect consider for the initial data transfer? (Select TWO.)
easy- A.Use a VPN connection and rsync
- ✓ B.Use AWS Snowball Edge devices to ship the data
- ✓ C.Set up an AWS Direct Connect connection
- D.Use AWS DataSync to transfer data over the internet
- E.Use Amazon S3 Transfer Acceleration
Why B: AWS Snowball Edge is a physical device for offline data transfer, ideal for large datasets (50 TB) over slow networks (100 Mbps). AWS Direct Connect provides a dedicated, high-bandwidth connection that can be provisioned relatively quickly (within days) and offers consistent speeds, making it suitable for the initial transfer. Option D (AWS DataSync over the internet) is not appropriate because it would take approximately 46 days to transfer 50 TB at 100 Mbps, which is not 'quick'. VPN and rsync (A) are also limited by internet bandwidth, and S3 Transfer Acceleration (E) improves performance but does not bypass bandwidth constraints.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This SAP-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SAP-C02 exam.